Advanced Manufacturing

Mechanical Engineer

If it has moving parts, there was probably a mechanical engineer managing the design, construction and testing of that object.

Do you enjoy your time in your basement workshop more than anything else? Are tools the best gift you could ever receive? As a mechanical engineer, you’ll work with machines all day, specifically those used for manufacturing processes. You’ll need a strong grasp of mathematical formulas and engineering principles.

You’ll be an expert on the manufacturing process and the individual machines that make it up. Every issue on the production line will be reported to you, and using your knowledge on the workings of each machine, you’ll find a solution. You’ll decide which machines are the most efficient for a specific production system, and you’ll also decide the sequence of the machines. Every decision will be made based on factors like budget, efficiency, energy, time, and quality.

You may be asked to get your hands dirty out on the production floor. You’ll interpret data from gauges and screens and make adjustments or repairs to keep the assembly line moving correctly. You’ll direct maintenance crew operations on complicated problems by creating technical drawings or writing down instructions. As an engineer, you’ll design tests that result in data on the operation of all the machines in the manufacturing plant.

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering to secure a job. The program will involve courses in computer-aided design, engineering principles, math, and technical drawings composition. Additional experience and hands-on training is a great way to stand out in the field.